Chapter 1

The  fluffy white clouds dotted the cerulean blue sky, casting a golden ray on earth. Birds chirped loudly, winds sighed, leaves rustled, and palm trees swayed gently in the breeze of the warm tropical sunshine. The atmosphere was refreshing. Above all of that, the tension that filled the air in the Sulyman’s residence could be cut with a pair of scissors. The past was unravelled to them, and it left them in a state of absolute shock and silence. In the living room stood Sulyman as well his wife, their two sons, and three daughters. Who would save the family's business from falling apart? A business that had been built with hardwork and endurance, was going to be crumbled apart with just a statement.

Few years ago.

"Sulyman, what brings you to my office today?" Alico said with an amused indulgence, casting a puzzled glance at Sulyman. There was no easy way to say it, but with great effort the words came out of his mouth. "I'd like you to lend me some money." He said as impatient as a lover.

Alico was flabbergasted, never would he had thought that the one and only Sulyman would look pass his self esteem and ask him for money, but here he was today, helpless in front of him.

"So how much do you intend i lend to you?” Alico said mildly. Sulyman was hesitant to say the amount, but he had to say it any way. He couldn't let all his hardwork go in vain, just because of his conceit. “I promise to pay as soon as i can Alico." He stuttered.

"I'll lend you the money but we have to put it in writting for evidence what do you think? and if you can't  pay me after five years, i will get married to one of your daughters."

Sulyman's eyes bulged out in surprise as to what he just heard. How could he have even thought of something like that, He wanted to give up and leave, he couldn't believe Alico's boldness, he had the effrontery to take advantage of his vulnerable state for his selfish desires. He thought they were in someway friends. But he agreed, because he believed that he would be able to pay the money back within five years or in less than that.

But a promise is a debt....

After he set forth  the whole story to his family, the revelation to his daughters left them in a daze, they were numb with shock. Who amongst them was going to be the wife of Alico, who was going carry on with this ultimate sacrifice for the family?

Sulyman looked at his daughters with unshed tears in his eyes, he didn't want to force any one of them but he had no option, time had caught up with him, all those years spent with hard work, was about to come crumbling in front of him. He hated himself for making his daughters do this, but he promised, and it was time to pay his debt.

Now he was put in a conundrum.

"Nasreen can't you marry him?" Afrah asked. “Nope.” She said firmly. “Why nope?” Afrah asked “No, cause i have a boyfriend who loves me, and i love him too as a matter of fact, and i can’t break girl code, his daughter is my best girl." Nasreen said firmly. “I thought you said you hated him the other day Nasreen?” Afrah asked with an eye roll. “Why don't you just get married to the man I thought you were obsessed with getting married lately huh?" Nasreen said hotly.

"Oh, please obsessed with young marriageable guys, not men who are old enough to be my father, And besides am still schooling, its going to be distracting for my medical school don't you think...so am out, and please i am only eighteen for crying out loud.” Afrah retorted. They all turned to look at their elder sister, who had been quiet all along.

"Why are you starring at me, am not ready to get married now, as you can see i just started my business, i need to be on my feet.”

"You see Sultana all of us have reasons why we can’t get married now, and let’s not pretend that we don’t know it is you who might help dad out of this situation, you are our eldest sister so you have to make a decision, he might even decide to get all of us married to him for his hardwork." Nasreen said hotly.

"I don't understand why all of you are telling me to make such a decision, it is not as easy as it seems, you guys just go, i need to think about it."

"You better think about it, really.." They closed the door behind them and left to their various rooms...

Later that night her elder brother Imran came to her room to see if she was okay. He guessed already that she would be the one to marry Mr Alico.

"Hey Sultana how you doing? you know if you dont want to get married i can make dad stop this marriage right?" “Ya Imran it's okay, I will be fine, besides it doesn't only affect dad, it affects all of us, what would happen if the company falls apart? So yes, am going to marry Mr Alico,” She said tearily. “If this is my destiny, then so be it, someone infinitely greater than i has written it, so who am i to change it.” She said in broken sobs. Imran engulfed her in a warm hug rubbing her back soothingly. “It's alright Sultana, everything is going to be alright, now smile cause I got you your favorite chocolate.” She wiped her tears with the back of her palm. “Ya Imran you know how to lighten up my mood.”

**

“Dad i don't understand why you said i should leave whatever am doing and come back with great urgency, what is the matter?” “Listen son, don’t you think this is the right time to settle down, you already have everything balanced, it is only a wife you need now.” “But dad, i am not ready to be a husband.” “You are very much ready my son, you know you are not getting any younger, i have gotten you a wife already, no buts or ifs, and my decision is final. I want you to do this for me and also for your self, i would be expecting you soon." How could his father make his life decisions without involving him in it, it felt unprecedented.

***

It galled him to think that his father could do this to him because of money, his dad was better than this condescension. He needed to clear his head, he grabbed the key to his sleek Mercedes and drove to God knows where, all he knew was that he had arrived at his friend, Imran's house.

"Hello mate,” Imran said in a British accent teasingly as he just returned from London “When in town?” “I came back two days ago, my father said i should come back that he’s gotten me a wife.” “Really, that means both you and your dad are getting hitched.” Imran said jokingly.

“Wait, what, excuse me, what do you mean by my dad is getting married, i think you are mistaken, my dad is not getting married, i am.” “You have no idea don’t you?” Imran looked quizzically at him. “I have the slightest idea, i’ll see you later mate.” Sultan was confused, as the disconnected fragments of story scattered his thoughts, he had to sit with his father and talk things out when he came back from his trip later that evening.

******

Sudais called Sultana on the phone and told her that their father wanted to see her. “I’ll be there in a jiffy, ya Imran." She wrapped her head in a hijab and strode downstairs. She greeted her dad in a mild tone. “How are you Sulti?" "Am fine dad." “May Allah reward you for doing this for me."  “Ameen daddy, i know it is all God’s plan, and what ever has been written was written by the best of writers.” She didn't even realize she was crying already, She excused herself, and ran to her room, she shut the door behind her, and let the tears fall freely..

She didn't know how many minutes turned hours, as she sat there crying. She could hear her mom and sisters calling her but she couldn't answer, she  just sat there numb. Then she realized they only thing she could do was to pray, pray to her lord the one who is always  there to listen. She stood up with determination and went to her bathroom performed her ablution. And then read two nafls. She wept in her sujood, she couldn't say anything but she knew her tears were traveling to her lord, saying all she couldn’t say, It was after then she found peace, her mind was at sheer peace knowing that her lord was listening to her, she realized that the coolness of the eyes and heart lies in prayers.. and with every tear her faith strengthened.